Las Palmas holidays

Arucas Church, Gran Canaria

Beaches meet charming city sights on Canary Island holidays to Las Palmas. The buzzing capital brings historic buildings, trendy shops and gold-tinted sands to the table.

Cosmopolitan capital

Sitting on Gran Canaria’s brow, Las Palmas is a fitting capital for such a beach-blanketed isle. Two good-looking swathes of sand unravel for around four kilometres. It’s not all about the coast, though. You’ll also find chic boutiques, bazaar-like streets and elegant squares to boot.

Big beaches

It’s easy to substitute sightseeing for sunbathing in Las Palmas. The city comes with a double helping of picturesque bays. Playa de las Canteras, in particular, is rated as one of the best urban beaches in Europe. Plus, it’s a bit of a two-sided coin – you’ve got surf schools to the south and calm, reef-filled waters in the north.

City sightseeing

It’s worth taking some time to explore Las Palmas’ pretty old quarter, Vegueta. Here, you can climb up Santa Ana cathedral, stroll past handsome monuments and check out the Christopher Columbus museum, where the great explorer is said to have stayed. Meanwhile, 20 minutes’ drive out of the city gets you to the Caldera de Bandama – a huge, 2,000-year-old volcanic crater.

Popular hotels in Las Palmas

Facts about Las Palmas

Currency
Euro
(EUR)
Language
Spanish
Time zone
GMT +1
Flight duration
2 hours to 4 hours 15 minutes from Gatwick

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